Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

A birthday fit for The King

You will have to find a cake large enough to hold 75 candles if you want to
celebrate the birthday of "The King" Richard Petty on Monday.

Petty, the
seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and owner of 200 Cup Series
wins, including seven Daytona 500 victories, is celebrating his 75th
birthday in the same town he was born, Level Cross, N.C. Petty will spend time
working at the current location of Petty's Garage and will later spend time with
his family.

Later this week,
Petty will fly to a familiar summer spot for him in early July, Daytona Beach,
Fla., where he and his family enjoy a birthday dinner in his honor. The dinner, coined "Red, White and Petty Blue," will take place
at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort and feature guest speakers who have been a part
of Petty's life. The night will conclude with a fireworks display and a birthday
cake made by the TLC hit show "Cake Boss."

"I'm really thankful
for everyone who has supported us over the years," said Petty. "I really don't
think about age too much. I just keep going to the next race. I've been doing
that all my life and that's what I'm going to keep doing. But, I am grateful for
each day and all the fans who make this a lot of fun for us."